On the Gothic monument stone known as the Kylver Stone we find the oldest complete rune-row. The runes of the Gothic rune-row were used mainly for religious dedications. Unfortunately not a whole lot is known about their meanings because unlike other rune sets there is no Gothic Rune Poem.

Around the middle of the 4th century Bishop Ulfila created a new alphabet, based on the Elder Futhark, to write Christian material in the Gothic language. For the names of the runes below I have listed the name Ulfila had given the runes as well as the Gothic name for the rune.

Faihu/Fe

Sound: “f”Stands for: Well beingCasting meaning: This is a rune of prosperity, well-being, and fruitfulness. It represents the Mother Goddess as preserver and nurturer as well as the mythical cow Audhumla. It symbolizes the abundance gained through power, as well as the power itself.

Urus/Uruz

Sound: “u”Stands for: StrengthCasting meaning: The rune Urus represents Urd, one of the three Norns, or fates, in Norse mythology. It denotes primal strength and the power of creativity.

Thauris/Thyth

Sound: “th”Stands for: ThornCasting meaning: Thauris is a rune of defense, like the thorn it can resist an attack without a fight. The rune Thyth represents the power of enclosure and has the strength to breakdown disorder and chaos.

Ansus/Aza

Sound: “a” as in “car”Stands for: Human decent from divine beingsCasting meaning: Ansus is a god rune showing us that humans are descendents of the gods. Aza is a rune that calls upon the divine beings and holds the power of creativity.

Raida/Reda

Kusma/Chosma

Sound: “k”, “c” as in “cake”Stands for: KnowledgeCasting meaning: The rune Kusma symbolizes insight, learning, knowledge, wisdom and enlightenment. Chosma shows us the duality between things such as the thin border between madness and genius.

Giba/Gewa

Sound: “g” as in “gift”Stands for: The act of givingCasting meaning: Giba and Gewa, like the Elder Futhark rune Gebo, stands for the gift given between two people as well as the act of giving and the bond that such a gift creates.

Winja/Winne

Sound: “w”Stands for: JoyCasting meaning: The last rune of the first ætt represents joy, harmony and a peaceful state of mind in a chaotic world.

Hagl/Haal

Sound: “h”Stands for: HailstoneCasting meaning: Like a hailstone, the rune Hagl/Haal represents restrictions and restraints. But like a hailstone melting, Hagl/Haal allows for the transformation form something so restricting to something more fluid and easy going.

Nauths/Noics

Sound: “n”Stands for: NeedCasting meaning: This rune denotes the absence or scarcity of something as well as symbolizing a necessity or need. The Gothic rune of Noics also signifies the letter of justice.

Eis/Iiz

Jer/Gaar

Sound: “y”, “j” as in “Frejya”Stands for: Season (or Year)Casting meaning: Like the changing from season to season or from one year to the next, this rune represents the characters of the cycles found in nature. It is a completion at the proper time with the chance for new beginnings.

Aihs/Waer

Sound: “e” as in “egg”Stands for: Staff cut from a Yew TreeCasting meaning: Aihs represents a double-ended staff of life and death cut from a yew tree. Waer symbolizes sacrifice.

Pairthra/Pertra

Sound: “p”Stands for: A Pot (or a Womb)Casting meaning: The rune Pairthra represents a pot which in turn symbolizes a womb. The Gothic representation of this rune stands for an unexpected resolution to difficult situations.

Algs/Ezec

Sound: “z”Stands for: Power (of the elk)Casting meaning: The rune Algs represents the power that is found in an elk. The Gothic rune of Ezec represents the fifteen starts of traditional European astronomy.

Saúil/Sugil

Sound: “ss” as in “kiss”Stands for: Light overtaking darknessCasting meaning: The runes of Saúil and Sugil stand for the power of the sun overtaking darkness. The Greek roots of Saúil referring to both the sun and the moon.

Teiws/Tyz

Baírkana/Bern

Sound: “b”Stands for: Birth (or Regeneration)Casting meaning: This rune represents the power of woman, birth and regeneration. It also represents the birch tree (or twig) which is the favored wood used for runic divination because it is considered pure and absent of harmful influences.

Egeis/Eyz

Sound: “e” as in “egg”Stands for: HorseCasting meaning: Egeis represents the power and status of a horse. It was said that the gods used horses in divination, shamanism and royal pageantries. The rune Eyz signifies the aether, the medium prevading cosmos.

Mannaz/Manna

Sound: “m”Stands for: Basic human qualitiesCasting meaning: This rune represents the basic qualities that are found in all humans such as support, social abilities, happiness and cooperation.

Lagus/Laaz

Sound: “l”Stands for: WaterCasting meaning: As water stimulates the growth of plant life the Lagus/Laaz rune stimulates growth in all of us. It also represents the fluidity and easygoing nature that we all strive to obtain.

Iggws/Enguz

Sound: “ng” as in “song”Stands for: Generative powerCasting meaning: This rune symbolizes the potential power that we must learn to channel before we unleash it on the world. A generative power that is released in a single burst.

Dags/Daz

Sound: “d”Stands for: DayCasting meaning: The rune that stands for “day” is one that can be used for the protection of entrances. In a reading you may take this rune to mean a protection from new people or situations that enter your life or your present situation.

Othal/Utal

Sound: “o” as in “cold”Stands for: Inherited land/propertyCasting meaning: Like similar runes that represent land in its many forms this rune is one of a wealth that is passed on to us from our family. Like family knowledge or a family secret it is something we should carefully watch and guard over.

Quairtra

Sound: “qu” as in “quick”Stands for: Flames of a fireCasting meaning: Although it is part of the third Gothic ætt the rune Quairtra encapsulates all the other runes in this set. It symbolically represents the flames of a fire as the transform things from one form to another cleansing them as it changes their form.